Get ready for the new season as MLB The Show 22 delivers an enhanced baseball experience.
We have just gotten into the new baseball season, and it’s good knowing that you get to watch your favourite MLB team regularly. Congratulations to the Atlanta Braves for winning the World Series. Commiserations to fans whose team didn’t win it, but your team has another chance to win it this season. As we go onto the new season, what better way to celebrate it than the release of MLB The Show 22? Instead of just watching baseball, you can play it too with your favourite teams. And it’s fantastic to have this game released close to the season opener. I had high hopes that the game would have some improvements from its predecessor, and I wasn’t let down by it.
MLB The Show has been the primary choice for baseball fans when it comes down to baseball games. It’s no surprise that this is the case. MLB The Show 21 was an enjoyable game, but as the new game arrives, you’d wonder if this one will be on the same wavelength or surpasses it. MLB The Show 22 allows you to get as much baseball action as possible. Another positive is that even casual fans would get a kick out of this. You do not necessarily have to be a baseball fan to enjoy this game, but inevitably, true baseball fans would enjoy this game much more for obvious reasons.
MLB The Show 22 has been available on Xbox Game Pass for the second year running. This is beneficial for Xbox gamers, especially if you have doubts about whether you should get the game or not but just want to try this out without having to spend additional costs. MLB The Show 22 has many game modes to choose from. You can take your team to World Series glory, or if you want to play for the vibes, you could choose the exhibition mode and have fun by yourself or with a friend.
It’s always a pleasure for a game to have something new, and in this case, this is where the Diamond Dynasty mode comes in. Diamond Dynasty acts somewhat like FIFA Ultimate Team, where you unlock packs and try to obtain the best players. This is an addition that brings more enjoyment to a sports gaming experience. You can also get your hands on some of the most iconic players in the sport’s history—quite an incredible feeling when you get a Jackie Robinson card.
Road to the Show has gotten even better this year, being the first game to have multiple ballplayers. Finally, being able to develop multiple ballplayers is something that has been needed for years. It makes things a lot easier for players. Franchise mode has been taken to a whole new level with about ten new features. Especially the trade metrics and budget adjustments have made this mode much more realistic.
Speaking of brand new, you really should try out the mini-season mode, where you can compete in an 8-team league for a chance to reach the playoffs. For now, it is a single-player mode, but this mode is enjoyable. You are given several objectives, and you can earn rewards like diamonds. And the ultimate goal is the championship that is up for grabs.
There’s also the March to October mode, which I feel they should either ditch this mode or the Franchise mode. There’s no point having both, as they’re far too similar for my liking. But the bright side is that March to October now has the free agency option. If there’s one thing a gamer loves, that would be nostalgia, and it’s no different in these baseball games. If you wish to go back in time, the retro mode will serve that purpose. Also, the controls are much more simplistic, and this gives you the feeling that you’re playing a game created decades ago, which some gamers might prefer.
MLB The Show 22’s gameplay is outstanding. This is the closest to being the actual thing throughout all the years of playing baseball games. The atmosphere, the tension, the movement of every player, the rules, you name it, this game has it. The mechanics are better than ever, and you go through several emotions. In real life, the games go on for at least an hour, and this game can run for a similar time, and you enjoy every minute of it. You do not truly understand that satisfying feeling you have when getting home runs until you achieve it.
I like how your catcher can build or lose momentum based on the match. The higher the momentum, the more likely your catcher can receive your throws, resulting in strikes for the opponent. However, the lower the momentum, the higher the chance that your catcher will fumble, which would end up, in many cases, the opponent being successful in the innings. This game allows you to create many different strategies against your opponent, and depending on what difficulty you have chosen, the AI will return the favour. This formulates into chess-like matches. A game that challenges your mind is perfect, and MLB The Show 22 does that.
The button layout is balanced. It isn’t too easy or difficult. There is always help for gamers of any level. You are given buttons to perform different throws, batting, catching, etc. Some people may struggle at first, but with more experience, it gets a lot easier. You also can choose which button configuration you’d like to use depending on your play style.
MLB The Show 22’s visuals are not too shabby. The graphics aren’t stellar looking, but it doesn’t threaten the game’s quality overall. Some vibrant colours deserve some praise, and it’s imposing that each stadium’s designs look just like the ones you visit or see on television. There are more than enough colours to give this game an appropriate look. However, the character’s models need a little work done. Some of the players don’t look exactly like the real-life figures, and you can sometimes notice glitches appearing—especially when there’s a mini cutscene or during some animations or something on the lines.
MLB The Show 22’s audio is excellent. Although the gameplay is outstanding, it’s not a baseball game without the sounds to support it. If you’ve been to a game or even watched them on TV, you will understand the importance of good music and sound effects. The music and sound effects used during a match make you feel like you are actually at the game. And when you include the real-lifestyle commentary from the broadcasters, there’s not much you can ask for. Let’s not forget the fan’s reactions to your performances. Getting huge applauses for getting home runs can give you goosebumps. The song choices are also pretty good.
Ultimately, MLB The Show 22 delivers almost everything you could want in a baseball game. San Diego Studio has done a fantastic job giving us one of the most authentic experiences you could endure in a sports title, especially regarding current generation gaming. And with the new MLB season’s arrival, you are getting the complete package as a baseball fan. However, some issues, such as glitches, need to be corrected, but most cases should be rectified with some updates. I would recommend this game.
MLB The Show 22 is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. And follow our website for the latest gaming reviews.
